Samantha Ruth Prabhu wasn’t the first choice for Oo Antava

In a surprising revelation, one of the producers of Pushpa: The Rise disclosed that Samantha Ruth Prabhu was not the original choice for the chartbuster “Oo Antava Oo Oo Antava.”

The electrifying dance number, which became a nationwide sensation, was initially offered to another leading actress before Samantha came on board.

Speaking at a media interaction, producer Y Ravi Shankar hinted that the decision to cast Samantha was a strategic one.

“We first approached another actress, but things didn’t materialize. Eventually, we turned to Samantha because of her immense popularity and the rapport she shared with the Pushpa team,” he revealed.

The last-minute inclusion of the item song was meant to add an extra spark to the film’s narrative, and in hindsight, it proved to be a masterstroke.

Viral song

Released in December 2021, Oo Antava became an instant hit, with Samantha’s sizzling performance alongside Allu Arjun earning widespread acclaim. Composed by Devi Sri Prasad and choreographed by Ganesh Acharya, the song shattered records and showcased Samantha’s ability to take on bold and unconventional roles.

Ketika Sharma was the first choice?

Speculation is now rife about which actress originally turned down the opportunity. It was speculated that Ketika Sharma was the makers’ first choice.

Ketika Sharma recently turned item girl. She performed the item song “Adhi Dha Surprisu” in upcoming “Robinhood”. Since she missed the chance in “Pushpa,” Ketika Sharma grabbed the opportunity now

“Oo Antava” remains the most popular item song, cementing its place as one of Telugu cinema’s most iconic special numbers done by a top actress like Samantha.